Dear Caldwell,
Did you see the story in last Saturday’s paper about a study of what happens at some large churches in America? A University of Washington research team found that some megachurches seek to trigger a “spiritual high.” Sophisticated high-tech production, well-choregraphed camera shots on big screens and a pastor who functions as an “energy star” delivering highly emotional messages all help produce an experience that packs in the pewsitters, according to the study titled ” ‘God is like a drug’: Explaining Interaction Ritual Chains in American Megachurches.” This is just one more piece in the fascinating mosaic of what’s happening in American religion today, a story that will continue to unfold throughout out lifetimes. As for Caldwell, well, I’ve never been called an “energy star,” but we do have a great choir!
What we also have at Caldwell is a rare opportunity to walk with people of all kinds, classes, creeds, perspectives and experiences. Rather than a high, this is a more “earthly” walk, one that allows us to catch an occasional glimpse of Christ’s own walk – trials and tribulations alike – with people of all kinds in his day. This Sunday we will continue to consider a central element of what it means to be people of God and disciples of Christ – namely God’s call to covenant community and, in particular, our obligations as a society to care for the poor. We will hold focus on the same two challenging scriptures from last week, which confront us directly with God’s call to withold any partiality toward the “haves” of this world:
Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9,22-23: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=214653425
James 2:1-17 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=214653525
We’ll open worship with the blowing of the shofar in kinship with our Jewish sisters and brothers as they prepare for Rosh Hashana. Marion and Stephen Idol will tell us about one way to respond to this call, the Crop Walk, coming up next month. The choir has prepared “Listen to the Children Praying” and “Steer Me Right,” we will welcome our new intern in ministry, Will Davis, and the September edition of the Caldwell Good News! will be out with some very important updates to our ministry story.
We give thanks this week that Katie Holiday is a new grandmother (grandaughter Alice born on 9-11) and that Loretta McCutcheon’s latest report is that her cancer has not spread. Tiana Butler, our summer Davidson intern, is recovering from surgery on her back.
Finally, many of us have watched this week’s events in north Africa and the Mid-East with concern. If you are interested in an event Saturday night where you can stand with Muslim brothers and sisters concerning this violence, you can read more about it here:
I hope to see you Sunday, not because you come to get a “hit” of God for a short-term high, but because you seek to be wholly transformed by the love and grace of Christ.
In Him,
John